[ltp] Re: Linux on the T20

[Tim Prince]

My T20's LT modem never connects over 24k in Qwest territory, before or
after the addition of the sticky shield under the card.  My ordinary 3.7
year old PCI modem (flash reprogrammed to v90) consistently goes 10% faster.
It could go 54k sustained on PacBell lines (yes, the LT is faster down south
too, but still not that fast). It works under linux without special
software, although it's a hassle.  Why spend so much money on lawyering (I
assume that's what's meant by "intellectual property") if you can't keep up
with the old models?  If you assume that anyone who can afford a T20 can go
where there's broadband service, why spend anything on developing a modem?

----- Original Message -----
From: "James Hawtin" <oolon@ankh.org>
To: <linux-thinkpad@www.bm-soft.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2000 9:58 AM
Subject: Re: [ltp] Re: Linux on the T20


> > 1. While modem protocols may be publicly defined via standards, some
> > aspects of modem performance are not covered, such as adapting to varied
> > line conditions. Companies such as Lucent, 3Com, and IBM (remember the
ol'
> > ACP/Mwave modem?) have spent millions of dollars on field research in
> > order to fine-tune their products to even the most diverse line
> > conditions. These fine-tuning details are a tremendous source of
> > intellectual property among modem vendors since the effects of the
> > fine-tuning can help in product differentiation (e.g. modem A maintains
a
> > 47Kbps connection in a location with degraded lines, while modem B can
> > only connect at 33.6Kbps).
> >
>
> Err why does that make a difference? I do not get a choice of which win
> modem I can't use built into my laptop! Product differenciation is not
> important, in desktops very few people buy win modems cos everyones knows
> they suck. Laptops are a captive market. We have to look at the machine as
> a package, a win modem in any form makes little difference
>
> > 2. Modem vendors may have licensed intellectual property from other
> > companies and integrated it into their products. The owner of the
licensed
> > IP may not permit it to be exposed, since it is a source of revenue for
> > them. This would prevent the modem vendor from open-sourcing any code
that
> > would expose the licensed intellectual property.
> >


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